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Georgia’s Not-So-Peachy Penalties for DUI
In the state of Georgia, it is illegal to operate a motor vehicle with a blood alcohol content at or above .08%. This is considered a DUI “per se” and a conviction will mean serious penalties. If you are under the age of 21, the state of Georgia will consider you to be driving under the influence with a BAC as low as .02% and you will be subject to the same penalties.
One penalty you can expect to face for a DUI “per se” conviction is an administrative license suspension or revocation. The state of Georgia will also suspend your license for up to one year if you refused to submit to a chemical test (breath, blood or urine). This is considered a violation of the implied consent law, which states that as a licensed driver in Georgia, you have agreed to submit to a chemical test during a DUI investigation. If this is a first offense, your license will be suspended for a minimum of 90 days. For a second offense, your license will be suspended for at least one year. Since a third offense is more serious, the state will suspend your license for a minimum of three years.
Another mandatory penalty for a DUI in Georgia is alcohol education, assessment and treatment. This is often suggested as a replacement penalty for serving jail time or paying expensive fines. If you are sentenced to receive this penalty, you will be required to complete alcohol schooling and a prevention program. You will also be sentenced to receive treatment for alcohol substance abuse.
In some states, repeat DUI offenders will have their vehicle temporarily or permanently confiscated by the state. However, this is not the case in Georgia. Other states will also have an option to install an ignition interlock device in a DUI offender’s vehicle. This device requires the driver to blow into the machine in order to start their vehicle. If a specified amount of alcohol is registered, the vehicle will not start. While this device is often viewed as a win-win for both the state and the defendant, this is not an option in Georgia.
Now that you have reviewed Georgia’s DUI penalties, you probably realize just how important it is to contact a DUI defense attorney. Your attorney could have your DUI charge reduced or even dismissed!